Portable stack lifter



Jan. 28, 1930. R. T. ROMINE PORTABLE STACK LIFTER 192 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 2 1\ a Z m m m l m P I fl T Q \wwwfl m ii J 1., a 1 RM M 1. "@m n IA! morn: y B

Jan. 28, 1930. R. 'r. ROMINE PORTABLE STACK LIFTER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 2 1927 Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES ROBERT 'I'. BOHINE, OI MOUNT OLEHENS,QMIGHIGAN roa'rnnn sracx LIFTER I Application filed larch 2,

This invention relates to a portable stack lifter or crane which is capable of being propelled through relatively low doorways or where restricted overhead room is provided.

The apparatus is adapted to be moved or carried into or out of a freight car and to straddle a pack of metal of great wei ht and lift it bodily, as a unit, from the car oor and deposit it on the platform of a truck or other conveyance, or vice versa. Such stack lifter or crane is substantially like that'shown and described in m co ending application Serial No. 133,374, fi ed eptember 3, 1926.-

An ob'ect of the invention is to provide improve means enabling the attachment of the hoisting mechanism of the crane to the load and the distribution of the weight of the load, and facilitates the handling of packs or bundles of sheet or other metal of varying 2 sizes and weights.

In the drawings wherein-like characters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stack lifter or crane showing one of the improved supporting bars of this invention in use.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Flg. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlar ed scale, of the improved supporting bar of t is invention. V

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the bar of Fig. 3 showing one form of load engaging and supporting member in operative relation thereto. Fig. 5 is a front 'elevational view of the device of Fig. 4:.

Figs. 6- and 7 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5 of a modified form of load engagin and supporting means, showin in dotte lines a portion of a pack bin er engaged.

thereby. i

Figs. 8 and-9 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5, showing another modification or variation of the loadsupporting means of this invention. I

7 Before desc 'bing indetail the present invention, and t e methodor mode of opera-' tion'embodied therein, it is to be understood that the invention 18 not-limited in its application to the details of constructionandar- .20 and 21, respectively. Each pair of verti- 1927. .Serial No: 171,976.

rangement of parts illustrated in the accom-- pan ing drawings, since the invention is capabe of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of the prior art.

The stack lifter is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and, as therein illustrated, comprises a sub-.

stantially arched frame havingfour spaced side supports or legs, such as a pair of front legs A'and a similar pair of rear legs A. Each leg or support is preferably identical in construction, comprisin a pan of front and rear parallel structursfi steel angle bars cal angle bars 20 and 21 of each leg are united at the lower end "thereof by means of a load distributing foot plate 22 which is riveted to the leg members.

The top frame workof the stack lifter-comprises a air of end transverse an le bars 23 and a" air of longitudinal side ang es To rovi e an intermediate floor or supporting.

rame located below the top frame, transverse channel bars 25 at the front and rear ends of 8 the stack lifter and longitudinal channels 26 .at opposite sides of the frame work, are provide The vertical leg members 20 and 21 and the-members 23 24, 25 and 26 are rigidly connected together by means of gusset lates 27 provided on opposite sides and en 5, respectively, at the top of the frame work of the stack lifter. Housed within theframe work at the upper end is the hoisting mechanism" i'ficludin reduction gearing, lifting drums and an e ectric motor, all of these last mentioned parts bein fully shown and described in. my co-pen ing application previously referred to. In order to movably sup port the stack lifter when not in use, spring supported caster wheels 29 are provided, these Wheels being positioned at opposite ends of the frame structure and operatively" connected with each oup of legs.

scale, the two load supporting and lifting bars C of this invention. Each bar is of preferably laminated construction comprising a pair of substantially flat parallel plates 30 and 31 secured together to form a rigid construction by rivets or the like 32 or by means of spot-welding. The bar C at its opposite ends is provided with a pair of outwardly extending parallel portions 30 and 31 respectively, providing offset, bifurcated or forked end portions, and having depending extensions or projections 30 and 31", respectively, these portions supporting and housing the sheaves or pulley wheels D. Each sheave or pulley Wheel D is provided with a shaft D adapted to be journaled in the end portions 30 and 31 of the plates 30 and 31. In order to reinforce the bifurcated end portions 30 and3l and maintain them in spaced relation, studs or pins 33 are provided which studs serve also as guides for the cable E which passes about the pulley wheels or sheaves. The cables E are adapted to be wound upon the winding drums F (Figs. 1 and 2) one end of the cable being fixed or anchored to the frame work. In order to lift and lower the bar C, the motor M is operated and serves to wind or release the cables E through the medium of the hoisting mechanism shown and described in my previously referred to copendjpg application, winding drums F .being provided for the cable. A control lever G having pull cords (not shown) is provided for the purpose of supplying or cutting off the electric current for operating the motor. This construction is fully described in my above referred to co-pending application Serial No. 133,374, and a more detailed description of it herein is thought unnecessary From the foregoing it will be seen that the lifting bar C is supported at opposite ends by the cables E, and that each lifting bar extends substantially the entire length of the crane bay of the crane at opposite sides thereof, so that when the load engaging means, to be described hereinafter, is supported thereby, and the load lifted or lowered'as desired, the weightof the load will be distributed throughout the length of the bar. By providing one of the bars C at each side of the stack lifter frame. each bar supgorting at its opposite ends a sheave or pulley and b providing the hoisting mechanism previous y referred to which includes gear reduction mechanism that'lifts and lowers the bars simultaneously and maintains them in horizontal position so as to permit a direct vertical pull or lift at each side of the load,

it .will be seen that the weight of the load, is"- distributed throughout the crane frame structure as well as throughout the'length of each of the bars C.

Packs or loads S of varying widths can be easily lifted and lowered by the hoisting mechanism of the stack lifter since substan- 40 which form a 11 tially all of the space within the framework is available and provides an unobstructed crane bay permitting the free upward or downward movement of the pack or load. This is accomplished through the use of the leg members 20 and 21 of angle iron construction having a vertical guideway or space between their inwardly rojecting verticallyextendingflanges of suflicient width to receive the offset or bifurcated ends of the bars C.

In Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive I have illustrated, by way of example, several forms of load engaging members. In Figs. 4 and 5, the load engaging member comprises, preferably, a bar of metal H of strap-like formation comprising a shank portion 40 reversely bent upon itself toiprovide at opposite ends hook portions 40 and 40 The hook portion 40 the shank portion 40, and the angularly disposed connecting portion 40 of the member H, provide a construction adapted to be slipped onto the bar and be immovable relatively thereto except in a longitudinal direction for adjustment. At the lower end of the member H, a portion of the metal forming the hook portion 40 is removed providing a slot forming upstanding spaced apart fingers or hook members 40, providing a bifurcated end or hanger adapted to receive and movably support therebet-ween the upper end of a hook shown'as a whole at 50. The hook 5.0 isprovided with a head portion or eye 50" and with a bent and flattened or flared load engaging end 50". In order to support the hook 50 in operative relation to the forked end 40 of the member H, a bolt 51 having a head 51' and a nut 52, is provided. The shank of the bolt51 passes through the eye 50 of the hook member 50 and its projectin ends rest within the space provided by the ngers ngeror support for the bolt and hook 50. The eye ortion or head 50 of the hook is interposed etween the fingers 40", whereas the head of the bolt 51" and the nut 52 are positioned on opposite sides of the members 40. It will be seen, therefore, that the hook 50 is permitted to have a movement or articulation about its horizontal pivot provided by the bolt 51, for a purpose to be fully described hereinafter. Likewise, the

freedom of movement of the book 50 relative to the shank 40 may be regulated by manipu' lating the nut 51.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a somewhat different form of load engaging member is shown. In this form of the invention, the device comprises a substantially U-shaped strap or bar of metal I having parallel legs 60 and 61 provided adjacent their outer ends with aligned aper- "tures or holes 61. At the closed end of the U-shaped loop or strap member, a bolt 510 is provided, this bolt having a rigid head 510", and being provided with a nut 520. The bolt 510 is adapted to support, at opposite edges of the U-shaped member I, a pair of the open end at the top of the bar. A

bolt 64 having a rigid head 64 is inserted in the aligned apertures 60 and 6-1 of the members 60 and 61, respectively, and in this position bridges the upper ends ofthe plates--- and 31, and serves to connect together the legs and 61 of the member I to hold it.

1 upon theba-r C. A nut is then applied to I so the bolt and tightened so as to maintain the members 60 and 61 in engagement with opposite faces of the plates 30 and 31. When suspended in this position by the bar C, the

links 62 and 63 may be brought into position between the parallel members forming thev binders (see Fig. 7). When in this position, the apertures'62 and 63 of the link members are aligned with any desired pair of apertures provided in the membersof the in Figure 2. A bolt is and '63 with the parallel members of the binder. :If' desired, a nut may be applied to the bolt, but this is not necessary since the weight of the load and the substantially straight lift of the mechanism of the stack v links becoming disconnected from the load binder. ,In Figs. 8 and 9, the load engaging memlift er eliminates any possibility of the her J may comprise a U-shaped bar or rod bent to form legs 68 and 69 each having ends similarly The'member ,shap (1 providing loops oreyes J is inserted thro hthe openingsin the eyes The bolt, wh in this position serves to span the upper edges of the plates 30 and 31 and to prevent the member J from becomfrom the bar C after the nut in disen a ed g g g the boltand tightened 71- is threaded upon to draw' the legs 68 and 69 toward one an'-' other.- Supported in the lower loop portion.

of the memberJ by means of a bolt 72 having a rigid head 72" and being provided with a removable nut 73 is a hook member 74 havlng.

a bifurcated upper end 74}, said upper end member J has been placed in position upon the bar C and the bolt and the nut 71 ad- I 'justed to support it in this position, the bi,-

furcated end 7 4* of the hook 74 is positioned with respect to the lower end of the member J and the,- bolt 72 inserted in the apertures 74 so as to connect the hook with the member J. The nut 73 is applied and adjusted so that the hook 7 4 is enabled to have a lateral is slipped into position upon the bar C and- .bolt 70' having a head 70*" movement or articulation relative to the supporting member J.

The apparatus of this invention is adapted for use in connection with a stack lifter or crane and is a-datped to enable said stack lifter to be employed in the lifting of packs ofmetal or other extremely heavy loads which are of varying sizes, shapes and weights. This'is accomplished by providing hook members or load engaging means such as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive, which members are mounted upon the lifting bar C and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally thereof. Each of the load engaging members comprises a link or member which is connected with the bar to provide longitudinal adjustment upon the bar, and a second link or member pivotally connected therewith permitting relative movement of the connected links or members. This movement or articulation of the members permits engagement with packs or bundles of different widths and also enables the lifting strain to be transmitted in a substantially vertical direction.

Thus the hoisting cables will be maintained in parallelism, and their direction of lift as members which are adjustable longitudinally of the bar, packs of varying lengths ma be readily accommodated particularly w ere the binders B are spaced apart varying distances, while maintaining the lifting cables E in substantial parallelism.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable stack lifter or crane having an arched frame and hoisting mechanism,

a horizontal lift bar connected at its ends with said hoisting mechanism, and a hook movable longitudinally of said bar having a bar engagingportion and a load engaging portion pivotally connected to said bar engaglng portion.

2. In a portable stack lifter or crane, the combination .of an arched frame, hoisting mechanism carried thereby, a horizontal lift bar having forked ends, cable operated sheaves journaled in said forked ends and connected with said hoisting mechanism, and a strap member bent to engage said bar and movable thereon, said strap member having a hook pivotally connected thereto and adapted tobe attached to a load.

- 3. A horizontal lift bar for a portable stack lifter including a pair of sheaves journaled therein, and a device mounted on sa id bar having a bar-engaging hook portion and a bearing portion adapted to releasably supporta pivot pin, and a load engaging articulated hook member mounted on said pivot pin.

erated sheaves, a horizontal lift bar comprising a pair of parallel plates secured together In a portable stack lifter having hoist 'ing mechanism including a pair of cable opface to face and spaced apart adjacent opposite ends to permit said sheaves to be journal'ed therebetween, and means on said bar adapted to be detachably connected with a load.

5. In a portable crane having an arched frame and hoisting mechanism including depending cables, the combination of a pair of horizontal lift bars connected to said cables and adapted to be moved vertically into position at opposite sides of alo'ad, and adjustable devices on said bars for connecting the bars to loads of less Width than the distance between said bars and for preventing substantial lateral displacement of the bars during the operation of said hoisting mechanism.

6. In a portable crane, an arched frame comprising depending legs spaced to provide a hoisting bay, said legs comprising structural members forming vertical channelways facing the hoisting bay, hoisting mechanism including depending cables, a horizontal lift bar provided at opposite ends with offset sheave supports facing said channelways, sheaves journaled in said supports, said channelways having a width to permit said sheave supports to project thereinto.

7. In a portable crane, an arched frame comprising depending legs spaced to provide a hoisting bay, said legs comprising struc-' tural members forming a pair of vertical channelways at each side of the frame facing the hoisting bay, hoisting mechanism including depending cables, a pair of horizontal 1i bars each provided at opposite ends with offset sheave supports facing said channelways, said channelways having width to permit said sheave supports to project thereinto.

8. In a portable crane, an arched frame comprising depending legs spaced to provide a hoisting bay, saidlegs comprising structural members forming vertical channelways facing the hoisting bay, a horizontal lift bar having each end offset in the direction of a channelway to provide sheave supports, said channelwa s having a width to permit said ofl'set portlons to project thereinto.

9..In a portable crane having an arched frang, a pair of s aced horizontal lift bars one at each side 0 the frame and each comprising a plate positioned edgewise in a vertical plane, hoisting mechanism including a cable connection at each end of each lift bar, load supporting devices carried by said bars at opposite sides of the load and com rising members slidable longitudinallv on t e bars in parallel directions between said cable connections and having portions straddling said plates and engaging opposite sides thereof.

10. In a portable crane having an arched frame, apair of spaced horizontal lift bars one at each side of the frame and each comprisln a plate positioned edgewise in a vertical p ane, hoisting mechanism including a cable connection at each end of each lift bar, load supporting devices carried by said bars at opposite sidesof the load and com rising members slidable longitudinally on t e bars in parallel directions between said cable connections and having portions straddling said plate and engaging opposite sides thereof, and load engaging elements pivoted to said members to swing transversely to said bars.

11. In a portable crane having an arched frame, a pair of spaced horizontal lift bars one at each side of the frame and each comprising a pair of plates positioned edgewise in vertical planes and oppositely ofl'set at each end to provide spaces, hoisting mechanism including sheaves journalled in said spaces,

and load engaging elements carried by said bars intermediate said'ofiset portions.

12. In'a portable crane having an arched frame with depending legs, a pair of spaced horizontal lift bars one at each inner side of the frame, hoisting mechanism including a depending cable operated sheave journalled in each end of each bar, pairs of load supporting devices carried by said bars at opposite sides of the load and slidable longitudinally on the bars between said sheaves in parallel directions, and load engaging memers pivoted to said devices to swing transversely to the bars.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT T. ROMINE. 

